UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
* MB
^ * »
FOUNDED 1836
WASHINGTON, D. C
GPO 16—67244-1
DISSERTATION
ON THE
EFFECTS OF THE PASSIONS UPON THE BODY.
*w
AN
7 N A U G U R A L
DISSERTATION
ON THE
EFFECTS OF THE PASSIONS UPON THE BODY;
SUBMITTED TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE
Rev. John Ewing, S. T. P. Provoft,
THE MEDICAL PROFESSORS AND TRUSTEES
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,
FOR THE DEQREE OF DOCTOR OF MEDICINE^
ON THE 19th DAY OF MAY, 1794.
By Henry Rofe, of Virginia^
HONORARY MEMBER OF THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL AND
CHEMICAL SOCIETIES, AND MEMBER OF THE
/ AMERICAN MEDICAL SOCIETY.
sa
Know then, whatever cheerful dndferene
Supports the mind, fupports the body too :
Hence the mofl vital movement mortals feel,
Is Hope, the balm and life—blood of the foul, ycAVRR/Pfl*
ft pleafes and it la/Is. ' Armstrong. *^~r ' •
^r>vJ k>
X.
PHILADELPHIA: ^%L4 VV5*?
PRINTED BY WILLIAM W. WOODWARD,
AT franklin's head, no. 41,
CHESNUT- STREET.
1794.
'Ur
-fZU. /&*sxzz>
%
"&£ MM SMS MM MM MM MM MM SSO» MM MM MM MM MOO MM MM MM MM MM MM MM MS* MM ^
TO
'WILLTAM SHIPPEN, M.D,
PROFESSOR OF ANATOMY, SURGERY, &c. IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA.
A
MAN whofe character, as a Profejfor, is defervedly
confidered in many refpetts as unparalleled, and as a Phyftcian
and a Citizen, juflhy /lands in the highCfl point of efteem.—
Whiljl I am paying this tribute, permit me, Sir, to acknowledge.
tvitfi what ajfiduity, care, and diligence, you have conduced me
through the arcana of Nature to this pofl of honour ; and gra~
titude will not allow me to pafs unnoticed the undifguifed afts
of friendjhip and hofpitality I always experienced during my
flay -within your walls.
With the highefl fenfe of Refpefl,
Dear Sir,
I remain your obliged
Friend,'and Pupil,
The Author,,
*
0009 OMO MM MM 0000 0003 0500 0000 0000 0000 MM COM 0000 MM MM MM MM OOM MM MM MM COM '
Hoo) %t*
WVVYVVyV^A/VVV\AAAAAAAAAiy
/Tv- v v v v..- v v v v.- v VV V W vVv\AAAAA7R
TO
THOMAS JEFFERSON, Esqjtire,
OF VIRGINIA.
kj) I N C E the Era that a pamphlet of this nature hat
been thought a necej/ary exaction from a Student of Medicine,
fo Cuflom has made it equally necejfary to ijfue it to the world
under the protection of fome Character that [hall be highly efj-
mated in the field of Literature, and as I humbly conceive
your's, Sir, toflandforemojl in this New World; together with
the many important medical hints I reeeived from your conver*
fation. lam induced to prefix your name to this EJfay*
With thefmcerefl Refp'eCt and Efleem,
I am, your very obedient
And humble Servant,
The Author.
7$s? V V V V VVN# V W* V V v V '«/V W V V V VV«
A D I S SE RT A'TiONP &c.
1 H £ mind anil body although widely different
in themfelves, yet they are fo formed, and wonderfully uni-
ted in us, that the one may be affected by the other in reel.
jprocal fympathy*
So intimate is this exiiiing connection, that every fe'nfa1-
tion of the mind* in a mariner affects the body, the one,
therefore, will be affected by the difeafes of the other.
Ev^ry perfon mi from its appearing more frequently in the younger
part of the human fpecies, in whom the fuperior parts are
more relaxed, and in a more irritable ftate. This affection)
fometimes, in Plethoric perfons, terminate in apoplexy.
There is-a fpecies of joy arifing from the prefentation of
an object to the eye or to the imagination, the incoherency
and abfurdity of which produces laughter. The Lungs ex-
ercife their whole ftrength, in this convulfive motion, from
hence it contributes to increale and agitate the whole circu-
lating mafs, and alfo from its having the power of exciting
into action the more vivid exertions of the mind as well as
body : laughter aids in the removal of melancholia and leu-
copbtegmatia. But how far a long continuance of it fhall
* In the fudden flow of blood to the face, when un-
der the influence of lhame, may not the mind have a power
of ftimulating the arteries, of a particular part and increafe
their ofciHatory motion, in the fame manner that the motion
of tbe heart i& increafed by any violent affection of the mmd,
or in the fame manner that any named mufcle of the body
is brought into action by the will, and very frequently this
motion takes place without the prefence of the will, which
occasionally may be the cafe with the arteries in time of
blufhing i
A DISSERTATION, &e. *3
prove detrimental, and be productive of the canFeeltfenceS
incidental to a fthenic diathefis fuddenly induced, muft bt
fufficiently evident. Apoplexy and Peripneumony have
fucceeded this paflion. ThusZeuxis is faid to have died
fuddenly from the laughter excited by a comic work, the
production of his own imagination.
Pity is that fenfation of the mind, through which we are
affected, by tbe evils and misfortunes of one or more per-
fons; it feems to be formed by the union of joy and grief;
the one being called forth by afflictions, the other from a
tacit approbation of that paflion ; the influence of this up.
on the different functions of the animal economy is fb very
moderate as to afford little or no interruption. For al-
though there is a proportion of grief prefent, yet
the mind confcious of its own rectitude, refifts this impend-
ing oppreffion and keeps up an healthy degree of excitement.
Its effects arefeldom very powerful, but it has been obferved
to have greater influence on the Lachrimal gland,than even
ibrrow itfelf.
Envy diftorts the mouth, eyes and mufcles of the face,
and the whole countenance. It is compofed of defire, an-
ger and grief: The defire of a certain gratification, grief
at the abfenee of that; and anger, pointed at him who pof-
feffes that gratification. Thefe diforderly emotions much
derange the ferenity of the mind, and make appear a re-
pugnance through every function of the body. A propor-
tion of fadnefs conftituting a proportional part of this paf-
lion depreffes and debilitates the power of both body and
mind. Whilft anger and defire act their part, the "fyftem
takes on a fthenic diathefis ; fhould it fo happen, that they
were alternated, a balance might be (truck, and the iffue
would be favorable : but it moft generally happens that the
one orthe other mounts the carr and drives on toaftate of
diforder. It is faid to caufe palenefs of the countenance
24 A DISSERTATION, Sec.
and, to excite the biliary difcharge*. Its other effects re-
ferable thofe of the pallions of which it is compofed, as above
remarked.
As yet there remains one paflion more to be menti oned
which is nearly allied to envy, but more vehement and
complicated, namely, Jealoufy. This occafionally fhews
love, fear, grief, pride, defire and anger. In the midft of
fo much contention, how far the fyftem muft be injured,
and how far this ought to be held upas the cauf'es of many
difeafes muft be evident, and I hope fufficiently fo, from the
influence of thefe feveral paffions when taken in a feparate
poipt of vie w.
Thofe moving in a high or public fphere of life, who are
infefted with honours and perfecuted with folicitations
who are obliged to diffemble their feeling as given them
by nature, and live as it were at variance with themfelves,
alfo experience in their health the bad effects of ambition,
andfuch disappointments and unwifhed for viciflitudes as are
infeparable from human affairs.
All thefe fudden and accidental emotions of the mind
affect the corporeal functions openly and at repeated parox-
ifms. Indeed there are three appetites of an inferior order,
namely, luft, hunger and thirft; but as they do not take
their origin from the mind,and it is only fecondurily affected,
and that they have their influence by the intervention of a
certain predifpofition of the body, I fhall therefore omit
the confideration of them here as not appertaining to our
fubject.
* Falconer Page 44.
A DISSERTATION, &o &$
The fymptoms of the paffions being fo far laid down, and
I hope with fufficient accuracy and perfpicuity to prevent
their being confounded with each other, I will in the next
place endeavour to fhew in what manner they may be oppoftd
to each other with advantage fo as to keep up or obtain
an equilibrium, being the principal preventative againft
their influence as difpofing to derangement and diforder.
When truly each paflion leperately fhall be in an immo.
derate degree, they interrupt the functions of the fyftem,
fo each has his opponent, and rejects or prefides over him in
turn. Thus joy is oppofed to grief; for what the latter
fhall retard the former will accelerate, for as grief re-
laxes and diminilhes the mobility of the Hypocondriac re-
gion, and the contained Vifcera, fo, laughter, partaking of
joy, (hakes and agitates thefe parts with a degree of brifk-
nefs, removes theprefent immobility, gives new tone to their
diathefis, and raifes the diminifhed excitement. In a fimi-
lar manner, love foftens the harlh features brought forth
by anger, and fear fuppreffes what hope excites.
Such is the wife coiinfei of nature teaching Us moderations
and the mode of preferving and procuring an equable tem-
per. But unlefs we (hould form thefe into an infeparable
chaos, we deftroy that variety fo ufeful in itfelf. That va-
riety which proves fo effential to mankind, in inducing
them to turn their attention to the different objects and
purfuits that prefent themfelves, upon this great theatre
of the univerfe. Befides all this, fome one of the paffions
muft prevail, and govern the mind; and every being has his
peculiar attachment and inclination to adhere to fome of
thefe affections. With thefe affections, there are generally
attending fome peculiar temperament and habit of body—
But as the mind in this particular, is like the body, which
26 A DISSERTATION, kc.
has become accuftomed to the performance of fome duty of
bufinefs, which it returns to at particular periods, without
being difordcred, it bears this ftimulus without being fen*
fible of its impreflion. Here, the mind, in the ordinary
purfuits of bufinefs is habituated to the action of fomeftimu-
lus afforded by itfelf ; but this being withdrawn or fuper-
feJed by one of a different kind, derangement anddifordef
are produced, both in body and mind, or in each feperately,
according to its power*
In the next place, I will endeavour to (hew, how far the
paffions differ from each other in different temperaments j
and in the firft place, it appears, that in a fanguine tempe-
rament of the body, the paffions are more violent, yet
quick, and in fucceffion more various, the ipind is prone to
joy, hope and pleafure. In the choleric they are excited
with more difficulty, but when brought into action, they
are found to be more permanent and violent than in the fan-
guine. In thefe various emotions of the mind, when oncjB
we allow them to make a deep impreflion, their vifits be-
tome too often repeated ; anger and pride principally come
tinder this defcription. In melancholy, the^emotions of the
mind are riever violent, but flow and conftant, and always'
fad, apprehending fome impending evil. The Phlegmatic
are feldom, i f ever, troubled with exceffes of the paffions of
either kind, and feldomer indulge the moft inoffenfive.
There is fo intimate a connection of every, difpofition of
the mind, with the peculiar temperament of the body, that
when ever a fpecial difpofition of the body is contracted, by
the indulgence of fome one of the paffions, we neceflarilf
induce a consentaneous temperament of the body ; and vice
verfa, when a particular habit of the body is formed, a pej
culiar difpofition of mind follows*
A DISSERTATION; &c 37
From this mutual connection exifting between the difpo.
fition of the mind and the temperament and habit of body,
and from the dependence of the one upon the other, for their
refpective functions, when either is difeafed, a remedy for
the one will be equally ferviceable to the other. To ex-
plain this, I will recite a few examples.
In thofe habits of the body that difpofe to melancholy and
grief, the mind fhould be ftrorigly acted upon in the firft
fituation, nor ought it to be allowed to dwell long upon any
one fubject. Grief, fear, and a too depreffed opinion of
ourfelves, always attend this difpofition of the body. So it
requires a confiderable proportion of hope and pride, to re*
fift the depreflioii induced by the former. At the fame time
it will not be thought improper to direct fuch medicines as
will dilute, and increafe the volume and impetus of the gc
neral circulating mafs ; and to adminifter fuch as will di-
minifh the immobility of the nervous power. The choleric'
who for the moft part are daring, proud and cruel ought to
be reduced to a ftate of more lenity, by love and pity, and
to be depreffed by fhame; in this cafe much good'may be
done by dilution and the exhibition of fuch medicines a§
will take off the exifting rigidity and lower the general ex-
citement, To thofe whofe habits are warm and fanguine,
whofe minds are moft eafily operated upon, and are affected
in the moft violent manner by the exhilirating paffions, it
not only muft prove ferviceable in this cafe, to diminifh the
ftorm, by oppofing it with thejefs inebriating emotions of
the mind, fuch as grief and fear, but to leflen the ftrength
of the moving fibre, and the tone of the arterial fyftem, by
confining the patient to a refrigerating and low diet. I he
Phlegmatic, whofe minds are under the influence of toq
great a degree of torpor; may be roufed into action by an-
ger and elevated by joy; at the fame time we fhould at,
tempt to excite a diathefis, verging upon the fthenic, by
the methods belt known to effectuate that purpofc,
28 A DISSERTATION, &c.
This, I hope, wit fuffice to have been faid upon the diffe-
rent temperaments. A proper regulation of the paffions
muft avail much in acute and chronic difeafes, and appears
to be acircumftance of the utmoft and laft importance in
their prevention as well as the cure.
How far a pL;i,I and equable temper of mind contributes
to the removal of every fever of an acute kind, muft be
evident to every accurate obferver of nature.
Inflow and, nervous fevers it is no left, beneficial to re-
lieve the mind by infpiring hope and adding new vigour to
the fyftem by the welcome news of joy. In all obftructions,
and more particularly the humoral Afthma, it would feem
to be a matter of confiderable importance to excite laughter.
For the repeated contractions and convulfions of the dia-
£-A phragm maybe expedient in removing the infartio.n of the
Lungs. In the fuppurative ftage of tubercles of the Lungs,
may not this action prove equally ferviceable .? Thofe who
h-ivc obferved the medicinal virtues of terror, remark that
it fometimes is followed by good effects. But fince the pre-
sence of this paflion has produced very melancholy confe-
quences, we ought to have recourfe to an expedient of fq
formidable a nature, with the utmoft caution, and then, but
upon the moft urgent and defperate occafions, as we do in
the adminiftration of every powerful remedy. The ufe
made of it in removing Hiccough, is commonly known, and
its powerful influence was luthciently known to the immortal
Boerhaavc.
Befides all this, the mind demands no lefs attention in
the healing of wounds. For the ftimulating or impelling
emotions contribute much totheincreafe of inflammation and
fjppuration ; and on the other hand, the debilitating or
resiling may and will have a contrary operation. And
among tbe various and many effecb of the paffions upon the
A DISSERTATION, Sec, fy
conftitution, we muft not omit to mention of what immenfe
application they have been in the prevention of an exacer*
bation of the intermittent fever, and alfo in aiding the fyfV
tern to contend with the contagion of infectious difeafes.
There are worthy of notice, fome functions of the mind
which cannot with the ftrict rules of order be reduced to
the clafs of paffions, yet of much confequence to the Phy-
ftcian, and as an operation of the mind upon the body, may
be fubjoined to what has beerv mentioned in the foregoing
pages- The firft of thefe is a high degree of faith and con-
fidence in the efficacy of remedies. Whether this operates
by engroffing the mind and attention, and thereby rendering:
it inacceffible to other impreffions, or by imparting fuch a de-
gree of tone or ftrength as enables the fyftem to refift their
attacks, is difficult to determine ; but I am rather inclined to
believe that both are concerned, and that they reciprocally
affift each other. This power is found moft efficacious in fuch
diforders as recur at intervals. It however, is obfervablc that
unlets.the prepoffeffion is very great, it is apt to fail in pro-
ducing a cure. Another mental affection which has pro.
duced wonderful effects, is a, determined refolution to refift
the accefs of the complaint. However extraordinary this
may feem, yet that it has been practifed with great fuccefs,
is a matter beyond doubt. It appears to have its influence
in a manner fimihr to the power laft fpoken of, and to have
been ferviceable in nervous and periodical complaints. This
appears to be not only a ftimulus to the nervous fyftem,
but alfo a general and powerful tonic And muft it not be
by the agency of this power of the mind, and its influence
upon the body that the fuppofed poffeffors of animal mag-
netifm effect fuch wonderful cures.'
From the view here taken, of the influence of the paffions
upon the corporeal and vital fyftems, we may generally in-
fer, that in cafes where the powers of life are brought be-
•» A DISSERTATION, &e.
low the ftandard of health, endeavours mould be made to
excite into action fuch paffions as will aid In counteracting
the leading fyn.ptoms of the difeafe And when the difeafe
jtfdf confifts in, or is agravated by too high a degree of ex-
citement of the vital functions, recourfe may be had to the
debilitating ones.
In doing this many difficulties remain yet to be got over,
relative to the application of thefe potent and precarious in-
ftrutnents; fince they cannot be brought to Chemical any-
lifis : that we may afcertain their real and poffeffed virtues j
neither can we form any judgment of their extent Or qua-
lity, by their effects. For what may have a moderate ope*
ration in one economy, may in another be fufficient, to Car-
ry the fyftem above the wifhed for point, and be fucceeded
by indirect debility ; and fince we are left fo much in the
dark, upon the manner of applying thefe agents, to the re-
moval of difeafes, and the difficulty of exciting them, when
wanting, Ifear it will be an infurmountable barrier to their
ufe; though we may look forward with pleafure, to the
time, when future ages will furmount this obftacle, and
teach us how we are to accommodate thefe remedies to ths
excitability of the fyftem.
THE.END.